Method and an apparatus for the production of heat and pressure energy

ABSTRACT

A method for the production of heat- and pressure-energy, by the use of a burner having a refractory perforated screen that on one side is contacted by the secondary air and on the other side by the primary combustion air, together with the ignited fuel, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, and more specifically to a magnetohydro-dynamic generator, for the production of electricity.

[ Aug. 8, 1972 United mates lalelll Gudmand-Hoyer S T N m MA 3 SE uT AmT .NS D E W N u m b [54] METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OFHEAT AND PRESSURE ENERGY XNM 22 88 99 33 00 66m mm nwn .1 d w e0 zo rlrSBB 036 356 999 /HH 436 Assignee:

[73] Dan-Fire-Energy ved Mita Gud- Primary Examiner-D. X. SlineyAttorney-lmirie & Smiley mand-Hoyer, Ballerup, Denmark March 15, 1971[22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A method for the production of heatand pressure- 21 Appl.No.2 124,568

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data energy, by the use of a burnerhaving a refractory per- March 16,1970 Denmark........................

1296 forated screen that on one side is contacted by the secondary airand on the other side by the primary combustion air, together with theignited fuel, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, and more 52us. CL.....................3l0/ll, 431/4, 60/39.82 N

Int. t t h d d t f 58 Field ofSearch........3l0/l1;431/4,5;60/39.05,jfijjl fj g g'j lig f,' ynam'c or 9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDAUB8 I972 3,683,215

META HARiA auvmmomdvm ways.

METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND PRESSURE ENERGYThe object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus forproducing a great amount of energy in a manner that is cheap, and notdangerous, and by using a comparatively small amount of fuel.

The developed heat-energy can be used in several ways, e.g., to producesteam in a boiler, or it can be used in other heat and pressureconsuming aggregates, or to produce electricity by magnetohydrodynamicaction, through the use of a magnetohydrodynamic generator.

The burners used are of the type mentioned in the specification of theDanish patent No. 1 13,942. These burners insure a complete and cleancombustion under the best possible utilization of the heat-energy of thefuel, with a very sharply bounded annular flame of high temperature.

An essential feature of the invention is that the annular flame and itscombustion gases are directed into a channel having an annularcross-section, and along the outer circumferential wall of which thereis added a fast-moving gaseous stream, consisting of a medium containingsubstances for increasing the energy of the combustion.

The high temperature of the flame acts as an initiator of a chemicalprocess in which the added energy-increasing substances are involved.Hereby is obtained a considerable increase of the developed energy.

As added energy-increasing substances, various kinds of salts and oils,or sea water, or simply polluted water, may be used, these substancescontaining components which are able to burn, or to participate in otherexothermic chemical processes.

Sea water contains great quantities of energy-increasing substances inthe form of salts, hydrogen and deuterium, and polluted water includes,moreover, comminuted inflammable substances, such as carbons, fattysubstances, salts and many others. As a result of the complete and cleancombustion, with a comparatively little amount of fuel, the pollution ofthe atmosphere will be diminished and the'above-mentioned use of water,such as polluted water, as an energy-increasing substance will assist incounteracting the constant increase of the pollution of the air and ofour drinking water, rivers, lakes, and seas.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention, is advantageousbecause it works without the use of cooling water, other than that addedto the combustion.

Together with the energy-increasing substance, there may, if necessary,be added a neutralizing agent such as lime that can neutralize theeffect of any admixed poison in the energy-increasing substance.

Further, an ionizing metal may be added which is of importance when theapparatus according to the invention is put to use as amagneto-hydrodynamic generator for the special purpose of producingelectricity.

Ionization in such a generator is brought about first and foremost bythe highly energetic friction between the outer stratum of the very hotfast moving gas stream and the cold protection air that is introducedalong the vertical magnet surfaces of the magnetohydrodynamic generator,to protect these against the very hot gas stream.

Ionimtion can furthermore be promoted by producing a shockwave motion inthe introduced energy-increasing substance, or in a neutralizingsubstance in the form of a gas, if convenient, in conjunction withsteam.

A magnetohydrodynamic generator of this type is based on the fact thatwhen a fast-moving stream of ionized gases is passing through a magneticfield, the ions will be deflected in a direction perpendicular to themagnetic field and to the direction of the movement of the gas, and anelectric current may be taken out through electrodes that are mounted inthe ionized gas stream.

The apparatus according to the invention may alternatively be formed asan oil or gas burning boiler, or furnace. The apparatus may, ifconvenient, be supplied with an electrical heating unit for pre-heatingthe combustion air.

Moreover, the very powerful pressure and heat-energy may be utilized ina turbine arrangement placed after the apparatus, which turbine mayactuate one or more compressors for supplying combustion air and coolingair, or other gaseous mediae, with those earlier mentionedenergy-increasing substances, and/or neutralizing substance, to theapparatus.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, the only FIGUREof which is a vertical sectional view of one form of an apparatus inaccordance with the invention.

The apparatus shown consists of a strong cylindrical shell 1 that may beprovided with an envelope of thermal insulation material or concrete andwhich may be placed below ground level. At the top, inside the shell, aplurality of burner noules 2 are spaced at regular intervals along acircle, so that the flames from the burner noules will merge into anannular flame. For instance, the burner nozzles may be spaced about onefoot from each other. The burner nozzles may be adapted to supply oil,gas or other fuel.

Primary air is supplied through channels 3 within the shell 1 and is,together with the fuel issuing from the burner nozzles 2, directedagainst the lower side of a perforated screen 4 of refractory materialwhich is mounted above the burner nozzles 2. Secondary air is suppliedfrom a channel 6 through a mushroom-shaped hollow body 5 mounted abovethe screen 4. As described in the aforementioned specification of Danishpatent No. 113,942 the various streams of air and fuel flow rediallyoutwards along the screen 4 while interacting with each other throughthe screen, with the result that an annular flame of very hightemperature (about 1,200C or more) is formed at the circumference of thescreen 4.

This flame is deflected downwards through a channel 7 having an annularcross-section. Mounted centrally above the mushroom-shaped body 5 at thetop of the apparatus is a nozzle 8 which is adapted to emit a conicalstream 9 of a gaseous medium such as pre-heated air or steam havingparticles of sea water, polluted water, salts, oil, or other substancecapable of exothermic reaction under the influence of heat, suspendedtherein, such stream 9 being directed towards and along the outercircumferential wall of the channel 7 to flow down through the same atthe outside of the hot combustion gases flowing therethrough. Under theaction of the heat of the combustion gases a chemical reaction of theadded substances among themselves, or with the combustion gases, isinitiated which may raise the temperature of the gases in the channel 7to about 3,000C or more.

Centrally in the apparatus a pipe-line 10 which is vertically adjustableextends up through the mushroomshaped body 5. Through this pipeline aregulating medium 11, in connection with hot air or steam, may besupplied to the inner side of the conical stream 9 of energy-increasingsubstances. This regulating medium may serve to neutralize the effect ofany poisonous substances among the energy-increasing substances in theconical stream 9, or increase the electrical conductivity (ionization)of the gaseous stream in the channel 7, or simply to regulate thecombustion in the combustion chamber; in this case the regulating mediummay be cold air or a fluid or steam containing a solid pulverizedinflammable material, for instance, coal dust or wood powder. Inaddition, the regulating medium may be used to generate shock impulsesof short duration, to increase the temperature and channel theelectrical conductivity of the gaseous stream in the channel 7.

When the apparatus is adapted to operate as a magnetohydrodynamicgenerator, as for instance in the embodiment shown, the outer wall ofthe channel 7 includes a powerful magnet 12, and an insulating materialis mounted between the magnetic poles in such a way that, together withthe magnet, it forms a closed cylindrical element. 1n the insulatingmaterial electrodes are mounted to take out electric current.

The walls may also be constructed of circular magnets with a horseshoeshaped cross-section.

To protect the magnets against the very hot gaseous stream, and also toincrease the acceleration of the gaseous stream, a very cold air stream13 having a temperature around 60C, for example, is caused to flow alongthe faces of the magnets between the latter and the very hot gaseousstream.

It will be noted that the very hot cylindrical flame in the channel 7burns in a downward direction and flows between two air streams havingdifferent temperatures, namely, the very cold cooling air that flowsalong the face of the cylindrical magnet 12, together with the secondaryair on the outer side, and the stream of the primary air on the innerside of the flame.

The supply lines for the secondary air and the primary air and also forfuel and regulating medium, extend up through the shell 1 between theinner walls of the channel 7 and the outer wall of a shaft 14 formedinside the apparatus.

The space between the wall of the channel 7 and the outer side of thecentral shaft 14 is provided with heat insulation in such a way that itis possible to work inside the shaft. The shaft may be provided with alift 15 by which the fitters that have to attend and inspect the burnerscan come up to.

The flue gases may flow up along the outer side of the apparatus to theatmosphere or to a device consuming thennal energy. If desired, the fluegases may alternatively be carried ofi the bottom of the apparatus.

What we claim is:

1. A process for producing energy in the form of heat and pressure bymeans of a burner of the type including a perforated screen ofrefractory material, said process comprising the steps of directing astream of fuel and primary air against one side of said screen, and astream of secondary air against the opposite side of said screen, thetwo streams being deflected along said screen to form a substantiallyannular flame at the circumference thereof, causing the combustion gasesfrom said flame to flow through a channel having a substantially annularcross-section, and introducing a stream of a gaseous medium containingsubstances for increasing the energy of the combustion into said chan'nel along the outer circumferential wall thereof, said lastnamed streamenveloping the stream of said combustion gases.

2. A process as in claim 1, wherein said substances for increasing theenergy of the combustion are sea water.

3. A process as in claim 1, wherein said substances for increasing theenergy of the combustion are polluted water.

4. A process as in claim 1, wherein an ionizing substance is added tosaid gaseous medium.

5. An apparatus for producing energy in the form of heat and pressure,comprising burner means including a perforated screen of refractorymaterial, means for directing a stream of fuel and primary air againstone side of said screen, means for directing a stream of secondary airagainst the opposite side of said screen, the two streams beingdeflected along said screen to form a substantially annular flame at thecircumference thereof, said burner means being mounted at the upper endof a substantially vertical channel having a substantially armularcross-section, the lower end of said channel communicating with a flue,means mounted above said burner means and adapted to introduce a gaseousmedium into said channel in the form of a continuous curtain-like streamalong the outer circumferential wall of said channel, and means mountedabove said burner means and adapted to add substances for increasing theenergy of the combustion to said stream of gaseous medium.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, comprising further means for addingsubstances for influencing the combustion to said gaseous medium.

7. An apparatus as in claim 5, comprising further a shaft defined withinthe inner circumferential wall of said channel and containing supplylines to said burner means and providing access to said burner means.

8. A magneto-hydrodynamic generator for producing electric energy froman ionized stream of combustion gases, comprising burner means includinga perforated screen of refractory material, means for directing a streamof fuel and primary air against one side of said screen, means fordirecting a stream of secondary air against the opposite side of saidscreen, the two streams being deflected along said screen to formsubstantially annular flame at the circumference thereof, said burnermeans being mounted at the upper end of a substantially vertical channelhaving a substantially annular cross-section, the lower end of saidchannel communicating with a flue, alternate magnet poles, andelectrodes in the outer circumferential wall of said channel, saidelectrodes being connected to an electric circuit, means mounted abovesaid burner means and adapted to introduce a gaseous medium into saidchannel in the form of a continuous curtain-like stream enveloping thestream of combustion gases issuing from along the outer circumferentialwall of said channel.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, comprising further a shaft defined withinthe inner circumferential wall of said channel and containing supplylines to said burner means and providing access to said burner means.

1. A process for producing energy in the form of heat and pressure bymeans of a burner of the type including a perforated screen ofrefractory material, said process comprising the steps of directing astream of fuel and primary air against one side of said screen, and astream of secondary air against the opposite side of said screen, thetwo streams being deflected along said screen to form a substantiallyannular flame at the circumference thereof, causing the combustion gasesfrom said flame to flow through a channel having a substantially annularcross-section, and introducing a stream of a gaseous medium containingsubstances for increasing the energy of the combustion into said channelalong the outer circumferential wall thereof, said lastnamed streamenveloping the stream of said combustion gases.
 2. A process as in claim1, wherein said substances for increasing the energy of the combustionare sea water.
 3. A process as in claim 1, wherein said substances forincreasing the energy of the combustion are polluted water.
 4. A processas in claim 1, wherein an ionizing substance is added to said gaseousmedium.
 5. An apparatus for producing energy in the form of heat andpressure, comprising burner means including a perforated screen ofrefractory material, means for directing a stream of fuel and primaryair against one side of said screen, means for directing a stream ofsecondary air against the opposite side of said screen, the two streamsbeiNg deflected along said screen to form a substantially annular flameat the circumference thereof, said burner means being mounted at theupper end of a substantially vertical channel having a substantiallyannular cross-section, the lower end of said channel communicating witha flue, means mounted above said burner means and adapted to introduce agaseous medium into said channel in the form of a continuouscurtain-like stream along the outer circumferential wall of saidchannel, and means mounted above said burner means and adapted to addsubstances for increasing the energy of the combustion to said stream ofgaseous medium.
 6. An apparatus as in claim 5, comprising further meansfor adding substances for influencing the combustion to said gaseousmedium.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 5, comprising further a shaftdefined within the inner circumferential wall of said channel andcontaining supply lines to said burner means and providing access tosaid burner means.
 8. A magneto-hydrodynamic generator for producingelectric energy from an ionized stream of combustion gases, comprisingburner means including a perforated screen of refractory material, meansfor directing a stream of fuel and primary air against one side of saidscreen, means for directing a stream of secondary air against theopposite side of said screen, the two streams being deflected along saidscreen to form substantially annular flame at the circumference thereof,said burner means being mounted at the upper end of a substantiallyvertical channel having a substantially annular cross-section, the lowerend of said channel communicating with a flue, alternate magnet poles,and electrodes in the outer circumferential wall of said channel, saidelectrodes being connected to an electric circuit, means mounted abovesaid burner means and adapted to introduce a gaseous medium into saidchannel in the form of a continuous curtain-like stream enveloping thestream of combustion gases issuing from said burner means, means mountedabove said burner means and adapted to add substances for increasing theenergy of the combustion to said stream of gaseous medium, and meansmounted above said burner means for introducing a gaseous cooling mediuminto said channel in the form of a continuous curtain-like stream alongthe outer circumferential wall of said channel.
 9. An apparatus as inclaim 8, comprising further a shaft defined within the innercircumferential wall of said channel and containing supply lines to saidburner means and providing access to said burner means.